Electroplating apparatus.



N. W. BUSH.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1913.

1 168 281 o Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

l 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. 9 FWZ.

N. W. BUCH.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATiON FILED JUNE 23,1913.

1,168,281.. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-WET 2. I

- i being taken on NEw'roN w. noon, on NnwcAs'rrn, rENNsYLvANIa, assre on 'ro SAFETY Aniaonrm coNnUrr COMPANY, or rrrrsnuncn, PENNSYLVANIA, A- conrona'rroN or PEN SYLVANI'A;

meager.

Br on, a residing at 7 act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of apparatus' embodymg my invention; Fig. 2

I is a longitudinal of Fig. 1;-Fig. 3-is section on the line 11-11 a section of a portion of on .a larger scale, the section the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the portion of the apparatus-shown in Fig, 3.

My invention has relation to electroplating apparatus, particularly designed "for electro-galvanizing pipes, rods, or other long slender metalarticles, although it may be used for a variety of electroplating operthe apparatus ations.'-

The object of. my invention is to provide apparatus of this character by means of which electro-galvanizing or other electroplating operations may be rapidly and conveniently-carried out, the invention provid ing means whereby the operation may be a continuous one.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which I have shown the preferred embodiment thereof, and .which .will now be described, it being premised,

, however, that various changes can be m'ade 1n the details of construction and arranger ment of the partswithout'departi'ng from. the splrit and scope of the invention as deportion of the tank.

fined in l the appended claims.

In these drawings, the numeral 2 designates a suitable tank the electrolyte 3. I f 4 designates a series of transversely aror vessel containing ranged'anode members supported withinthev electrolyte inthe lower portion of the tank. 5- designa-tes endless conveyer chains, two

in number, one of. these chains being ar-.

ranged for longitudmal travel at each side These chains are-carried' and driven by the sprocket wheels 6 on transverse shafts 7, which are journaled n Application filed June 28, 1913. Serial No. 773,251.

I i suitable 1 bearings 8 on Pennsylvaand useful Iming any suitable manner,

. veyer chains, and by I moved through he electrolyte, while at the Specification ofLetters Patent. 'Patentfed J 311.1%, 1916.

the tank. One of these shafts may be driven by any. suitable means, such as the sprocket wheel9.

Supported above each end portion of 'the anode members 3, and outside of the adjacent conveyer '5, is a longitudinally extendcathodecathode member 10. These members extend below the surface of the electrolyte, and also form pole. pieces for a series of electro-m'agnets 11 secured thereto. These cathode members'may be supported in as by means of cross bars12 which rest .on the sides of the tank.

Theconveyer chains surface of the electrolyte and a short distance above such surface. Each conveyer 1s provided with a plurality of spaced p ns or to 'extend'into the electrolyte to a 5 are so mounted that their lower portions will travel over the,

one end of the tank, by means of which the v pipes or other articles to be coated are introl duced therein; and 15 is a delivery skid or chulte 'at the opposite end --portion of the tan r. a

skid 15.

i 16 is a transversely arranged drainage. 1 trough adjacent to the upper endof the 10 are preferably curvediupwardly as shown at 10 andlO for the purpose hereinafter described.

The operation is as follows :--T he pipes or other objects to be coated (and shown at A) are successively rolled on the skid 14 into the tank and into the electrolyte, where they are immediately attracted by the upnd portionslO of the magwardly turned e members. They are also netized catho engaged by; the

' means of the latter'are sametime they are held in suspension by the magnetic'.'act1on of the said cathode members. When the pins or studs on'the .con-

pipes or other articles arrive atthe opposite end portion of the tank, and the plating operation is completed, they are lifted out of the electrolyte by following the upwardly curved end portion 10 of the. cathodemembers and are discharged by the pins of the 'conveyer into the drainage'trough 16 after they have been lifted clear of-saidmember s by the pins.

The advantages of my lnvention result from theprovision of apparatus 'ofasim'ple and eflicient character, whereby .the operation is 'a continuous one. It will be noted that' the magnetized cathodes serve to hold the; articles in spaced relation while they are moving through the electrolyte, thus bringing the electrolyte into contact with.

the entire surface of each article. As the pipes move along the surfaces of these'cathforms, in connection with r the conveyer -No other special chains, simpleand efi'ective m'eans for lift-" ing and discharging articles from -the' tank.

this purpose. v

- -Iclaim: 1. Electroplating apparatus, comprisin'g a tank or vessel for-,the electrolyte, anode members therein, a cathode member sup- "portedjabove the anode members in position to leave a passage betyveen the anode mechanismis required for cathode members for the articles to be coated, means'for magnetizing the cathode members,and conveyer'means for engaging and moving the articles through the electrolyte while they are suspended from above gby the .cathodemembers andata distance from the anode members, substantially as described". i

cathode member extending longitudinally within the electrolyte above and at a distance from an anode "member, and means whereby. the articles tobe coated are moved '2. Electroplating apparatus I having a.

through theelectrolyte at the under side of the cathode member while-suspended there from, the space below the articles being unobstructed to the passage of current to they articles, substantially as described.

Electroplating apparatus having a cathode member extending. longitudinally within the electrolyte, magnets for magnetizifig the cathode member, and means for moving thearticles to be coated through the -'-with the under side of the cathode member,

substantially as described;

In t ny whereof, I have hereunto set myhand., p

' NEWTON w. BUCH. -..Witnesses: 1

V RICHARD F. DANA, 1 I IEvA B. MooRE.

electrolyte while. they are held in contact 

